MUSQUITOES. 283 



hard white tumour presently rises on the spot as 

 large as a silver threepence, which itches intolerably, 

 and remains attended with dull pain and tension, for 

 many hours. The mountain Musquitoes are gene- 

 rally very much smaller, C. fasciatus, for instance, a 

 minute species ; they are more pertinacious, associate 

 in more numerous swarms, emit a sharp shrill hum, 

 and produce a sudden twinge as they pierce the flesh, 

 as if a spark of fire had fallen on it. A violent itch- 

 ing is the immediate result, but it soon goes off, 

 leaves scarcely any perceptible tumour, and is soon 

 forgotten. These, however, are more intolerable 

 than the former, the recurrence of the spark-like 

 prick at every moment, or rather all over the exposed 

 parts of the person at the same moment, is too 

 maddening to be endured ; and it is almost impos- 

 sible to face a phalanx of these tiny adversaries, 

 where they are numerous, without some device for 

 keeping them off. A fragment of the earthy nest 

 of the Duck-ants (Tei-mites) answers well for this 

 purpose ; being ignited, it continues to smoulder a 

 considerable time, sending forth a large volume of 

 smoke ; this carried in the hand, and waved to and fro, 

 is the most effective weapon against these winged 

 warriors. 



A young friend, on whose powers of observation 

 and veracity I have full reliance, has assured me that 

 he once saw a swarm of Musquitoes clinging to each 

 other, in the manner of Bees when secreting wax, 

 till the mass was about as big as a man's fist. He 

 was not at first aware of the nature of the assemblage, 

 till on touching it the whole multitude took to flight 

 in an instant, singing around him, leaving nothing 



